Self-propelled dart



1964 J. A. JACKSON ETAL 3,162,444

SELF-PROPELLED DART Filed Dec. 19, 1962 ,r i l 62 3 5 3 INVENTORS JAMES A. JACKSON Y WALTER L. JACKSON United States Pater 3,162,444 Patented Dec. 22 1964 llC 3,162,444 SELF-PROPELLED DART James A. Jackson, 1151 Washington Heights Place, and Walter L. Jackson, 1669 Washington Heights Place, both of El Cajon, Calif.

Filed Dec. 19, N62, Ser. No. 245,765 7 Claims. (Cl. 273-1065) The present invention relates generally to game darts and more particularly to a self-propelled dart.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved dart in which the propelling means is assembled with and becomes a part of the dart structure.

A further object is to provide an improved dart which is re-usable without having to be re-loaded on a launcher structure.

A still further object is to provide an improved dart in which a portion of the propelling means is enclosed within the dart structure.

Finally, it is an object to provide a self-propelled dart of the aforementioned character which is simple and convenient to use and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawing which forms a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing how the dart is held prior to launching;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the dart;

FIGURE 3 is a section on the line 33 of FIGURE 2 showing the launching position of the wing member in dot-dash lines; and

FIGURE 4 is a section of the head member taken on a line similar to the line 33 of FIGURE 2 showing a modification of the means for securing the head member on the dart body.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing in detail the reference numeral 20 indicates generally the dart body. This body consists of an elongated thin walled tubular member 22 having diametrically disposed elongated slots 24 therein terminating adjacent each end of the body member. Slots 24 are shown as being straight but they may, if desired, be slightly spiral to spin the dart as it is launched. The rearward end of the body member 22 is closed and is provided with a laterally extending gripping flange 26. The rearwardmost end of this flange is provided with a notch 28, the function of which will become apparent as the description proceeds. Body member 22 may be formed from any suitable material, preferably light-weight synthetic plastic. However if a more durable body member is desired thin sheet metal could be used advantageously.

The forward end of the dart body is provided with a head member indicated generally by the reference number 39. This head member consists of a body member 32 having a suction cup member 34 connected thereto by a resilient neck 36. An axially extending cylindrical flange 38 encloses the forward end of the tubular body member 22 and is secured thereto by any suitable'means such as a frictional fit. The flange 38 may, if desired, be provided with diametrically opposed holes or openings 40. Head member 32 is preferably formed of a resiliently yieldable material such as rubber or the like.

Slidably mounted in slots 24 is a wing member generally indicated at 50. This wing member has laterally projecting arms 52, 52 on opposite sides of the body member 22. The rear edge 53 of each arm 52 slopes outwardly and forwardly and terminates at shoulder 56 which is formed by the enlarged end 54 of the arm 52. Forward edge 57 of wing member 50 is provided with two V-shaped notches 58 and 60. As shown in FIGURE 3 these notches are positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the wing member and closely adjacent thereto so that when the wing member is centered in the tubular body member 22 the notches will lie completely within the confines of the tubular body member. Wing member 50 is formed of suitable sheet material of the desired strength and rigidity and of a thickness slightly less than the width of slots 24 so that the wing member may slide freely therein.

Motive power for the dart is supplied by resilient means 62 interconnecting the Wing member with the gripping flange 26. As shown the resilient means consists of an endless rubber band one loop 64 of which is looped over one end of the wing memberStl and positioned in notch 60. The free end 62 of the band is then passed across the notch 28 and looped over the other end of the wing member and positioned in notch 53. The resilient member 62 is of such a length that, when in its free unstressed condition, the Wing member 50 will be positioned as shown in solid lines in FIGURE 3. The dot-dash lines in the same figure show the position of the wing member 50 just prior to launching. As will be seen from FIGURE 3 the loops 64, 66 of therubber band are positioned within the tubular body member at all times and the width of the slots 24 is such that they cannot be accidentally displaced in normal use. Since the loops 64- and 66 are substantially the same length tension forces in each loop will be the same. Notches 58 and 60 being on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the wing member, forces exerted by the resilient loops 64 and 66 will tend-to center the wing member 50 in the tubular body 22.

FIGURE 4 discloses a modification of the means for securing the head member 36 on the tubular body member 22. The forward end of tube 22 is provided with two diametrically disposed radially outwardly projecting lugs 70 each having a forwardly extending cam surface 72.

, Head 30 is assembled on tube 22 by sliding it axially so that flange 38 rides over cam surfaces 72. Lugs 70 then snap into holes 40 and shoulders 74 engage the rear edge of flange 38 to form a positive locking engagement between the head and tube.

FIGURE 1 illustrates the manner in which the dart is held just prior to launching. Flange 26 is gripped by the thumb and finger of one hand. Two fingers of the other hand engage wing member 59 one on each side thereof and are prevented from slipping off by the shoulders 56. The hands are then moved apart so that the Wing member moves from the solid line position in FIGURE 3 to the dot-dash position, which is also the launching position as shown in FIGURE 1. In this extended position resilient member 62 is fully tensioned. Release of the flange 26 will result in sudden contraction of resilient member 62 and the dart will be propelled from the hands of the user.

It will be readily apparent that this dart is completely self contained. It requires no separate launching member and is simple in construction with few moving parts. When worn or broken the resilient propelling member can be replaced by a conventional endless rubber band.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

a said resilient means comprises an endless rubber band What is claimed is:

' 1. A self-propelled dart comprising:

a thin Walled elongated tubular body member having a forward and rearwardend;

a head member closing the forward end and being pro- 5 vided with a suction cup extending folwardly therefrom;

the rearward end of said body member being closed and provided with a laterally extending gripping flange;

said head member includes a flange enclosing the forward cally disposed holes therein and radially extending lugs on said tubular member extending into said holes to lock said head to said tubular member.

5. A self-propelled dart as claimed in claim 1 wherein end of said tubular member, said flange having diametrisaid body member having diametrically opposed elon- 6. A self-propelled dart comprising:

gated slots terminating adjacent the ends thereof; an elongated body member having a forward and reara wing member slidably mounted in said slotsand V ward end; a a

a resilient member operatively interconnecting the wing a head member secured to said forward end and hav- 7 member and the rearward end of said body member; ing a suction cup extending forwardly therefrom; said wing member being adapted to be engaged by therearward end of the body member being provided the hand of the user to effect relative movement of With a laterally extendinggripping flange; the wing member andbody member and said resilient said body member having an elongated slot terminating 'member resisting forward movement of said wing 7 adjacent the ends thereof;

member. a Wing member slidably mounted in said slot; and 2. A'self-propelle'd dart comprising: V a resilient member interconnecting the wing member 'a hollow thin walled'elongated tubular body member and the rearward end of said body member, said having a forward end and arearwardend; wing member being adapted to be engaged by the a head member closing the forward end and being prohand of the user to effect relative movement of the vided with a suction cup extending forwardly there- W ng member and body member and said resilient from; i g member resisting forward movement of said'wing the rearward end of said body member being closed and mmbfif.

provided with a laterally extending gripping'flang e; A self-Propelled dart, Comprising in C b H the rear edge of said flange having a notch therein sub- (A) an elongated y having a head. end and a tail stantially in alignment with the longitudinal axis of h tail 6nd of the y forming a hand p; said body member; V (B) a suction cup extending forwardly from the head said body member having diametrically opposed elonof the y; v

I gated slots terminating adjacent the. ends thereof; a hand g p member'mounted on the o y forrslida wing member slidably mounted in said slots; I v g m nt longitudinally of the body; 1

said'wing member having a forward edge and a rear- (D) and a resilient member interconnecting the slidw d edge I ably mounted member and the tail end of the body; said forward edge being provided with a V-shap ed Said hand P member being p fi to be held by notch on both sides of the longitudinal axis thereof; One hand of the user and the tail end of e Q Y resilient means operatively interconnecting each of said i i d p to be held y the hand of the V-shaped notches with said first mentioned notch user to effect relative spreading en b t whereby forward movement of said wing member 40 I the hand P member and y and Said resilrelative to said tube tensions said resilient means, ism member resisting i m m said wing member being adapted to be engaged by the V f hand of the user to effect relative movement of the Referencescited b the Examine! wing membertand body member and said resilient 4" ",UNITED, STATES PATENTS mgmber reslstlng f w r movement of said Wll'lg 1 33 945 3 7 sultzer V 124 16 member? e 1421-234 6/22 H h e i 3. 'A self-propelled dart as claimed in claim 2 in which f e a Dug tell 1 a 1 said lv-slljiaped notches are located completely within the FOREIGN PATENTS tu u ar ody member. a i 1 4. A self-propelled dart as claimed in claim 3 in which 523,614 4/2-1 France.

DELBERT B. Lewis, rn'mar Examiner. 

7. A SELF-PROPELLED DART, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) AN ELONGATED BODY HAVING A HEAD END AND A TAIL END, THE TAIL END OF THE BODY FORMING A HAND GRIP; (B) A SUCTION CUP EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM THE HEAD END OF THE BODY; (C) A HAND GRIP MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE BODY FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF THE BODY; (D) AND A RESILIENT MEMBER INTERCONNECTING THE SLIDABLY MOUNTED MEMBER AND THE TAIL END OF THE BODY, SAID HAND GRIP MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO BE HELD BY ONE HAND OF THE USER AND THE TAIL END OF THE BODY BEING ADAPTED TO BE HELD BY THE OTHER HAND OF THE USER TO EFFECT RELATIVE SPREADING MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE HAND GRIP MEMBER AND THE BODY AND SAID RESILIENT MEMBER RESISTING SAID MOVEMENT. 